Desk pen set



MA ...m-'n

June 9, 1959 .J. J. oLsoN 2,890,090

DESK PEN SET Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l '7 INVENToR. F1612 lcal-IN J. oLsoN .ATTORNEY June 9. 1959 J. J. OLSON 2,890,090

DESK PEN SET Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l5 e r9 4 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. JOHN J. OLSON BY mag/TVQ Zw ATTORNEY DESK PEN SET John J. Olson, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,398

3 Claims. (Cl. 31'2-319) My invention relates to a desk pen set wherein a support is provided for a writing pen which is mounted rotatably upon a supporting base. The pen holder has a tubular portion open on each end and is adapted to movably support the pen or Writing instrument therein.

A' feature resides in providing a desk pen set having a support for the pen which when rotated is adapted to automatically release a tray in the base of the set to disclose the contents of the tray by lifting the pen or writing instrument from the socket in which it is removably supported.

A further feature resides in providing` a desk pen set wherein a writing instrument is supported in a manner to be readily accessible for use and in providing a slidable tray Iwithin a base which may contain loose memorandum sheets so that when the writing instrument is` engaged it will automatically release the tray containing the memorandum sheets and hold the sheets While the writing instrument is used to make memorandum thereon. The memorandum sheet may be readily removed or it may remain in the tray after a memorandum has been made on the same and the tray containing the memorandum may be readily moved into a closed position concealing memorandum sheets and the writing instrument replaced into the socket for supporting the same.

It is also a feature to provide a desk pen set having a base in which a slidable tray is mounted which can be released automatically intoV open position or can be concealed within a base portion. The tray may be for the purpose of containing loose memorandum sheets or paper clips or other objects which are ordinarily associated with a desk supporting the set. Thus thel tray within the base forms a convenient storage space which is normally concealed within the contines of the base but may be readily accessible by releasing the tray so that it is automatically opened by means provided within said base.

My invention includes a desk pen set having a tubular open ended socket which is adapted to support a writing instrument and which is removably mounted on a base portion 'so that the socket may be disassembled from the supporting base to facilitate storing and packaging the set. The socket for supporting the writing instrument provides a means for supporting va ball point pen, a pencil or other similar writing instrument and when the writing instrument is within the socket the writing end of the same is exposed. This keeps the Writing end of 'the'ball point pen clean and prevents any accumulation or building up of ink on the end of the ball point pen which is apt to occur where the supporting socket is closed at the lower end.

A primary feature of my invention resides` in providing a desk pen set which facilitates a quick and easy means for providing a memorandum sheet for the writing instrument which is automatically exposed out of the base in the act of removing the writing instrument from its supporting socket and slightly rotating the socket as the instrument is removed therefrom.

lCC

- The foregoing objects together with detailsand features of the invention will be more fully hereinafter set forth. In the drawings forming part of this specification: Figure l is a perspective view of the desk pen set showing the tray in an open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 showing the tray in closed position.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and showing the drawer, the lock lever, and the springs.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the desk unit which shows the open-ended socket removed therefrom, and showing the socket-holding means in dotted outline to show the forward movement thereof to release the tray.` l v Figure 5 is a side elevation of the open-ended socket removed from its support for packaging.

My desk pen set is designed with the base 1, which may be made of plastic or other suitable material, integrally formed of a top wall 2 with a slot 3 thereon near the rear thereof and with stops or shoulders 2a depending from the inner surface of the top wall 2. Secured to the top wall 2 are the depending sidewalls 4, the rear wall 5 and the bosses 6. v

The bottom plate 7 is a flat membery formed with an upstanding ange 8 at the rear thereof, having a hole 9 therein. Formed at vright angles from said plate 7 are two vertical platelike posts 10 having holes 11 and 12 therein. I provide a hole 13 `in said plate 7 through which is attached an eyelet 14. Suitable holes 15 are provided in the plate 7 for attaching said bottom plate 7 to the base 1 at the bosses 6 by screws not illustrated.

, The slidable tray 16, which may be made of plastic or other suitable material, has a bottom member 17 which curves upward to form a wall 18 at the front thereof. Secured to said bottom 17 are the side walls 19, and the rear Wall 20. A hole 21 is provided in the bottom member 17 at the rear thereof. A ramp 20, which is a longitudinal rib inclined downward to the rear, is attached to the rear Wall 20 and to the bottom member 17.

The lock lever 23 is a at member formed with a hook 24 `at one end thereof, a slot 25 at the rear thereof and the pivoted ends 26 which rotate in the holes 12 thereto.

of the upright posts 10.

The lock lever actuator 27 is an arcuated'member with a threaded stud 28 axed thereto, and end members 29 having holes 30 are formed at right angles Formed from one side of the actuator 27 is an extending member 32 having transversely disposed protrusions 32a at the free end thereof, and having a hole 33 near the free end thereof. Y

An open-ended socket 34 for holding a writing instrument 39 is formed with transversely disposed supportsV and a hole 35 therein.

The lock lever actuator 27 is rotatably attached to the bottom plate 7 by a shaft 31 tted through the holes 30 of the actuator 27 and through the holes 11 of the plate-like posts 10. The lock lever 23 is pivotally attached to the vertical posts 10 by the pivoted ends 26 which extend through the holes 12. The extending member 32 of the lock lever actuator 27 is adapted to fit into the slot 25 of the lock lever 23.

The bottom plate 7, with the lock lever 23 and the lock lever actuator 27 attached thereto, is adapted to attach to the base 1 with screws inserted through the holes 15 into the bosses 6. The lock lever actuator 27 is then in close proximity to the slot 3 of the case 1 and stud 28 of the lock lever actuator 27 extends through and above the slot 3.

The socket 34 attaches to the lock lever actuator 27 with the socket nut 36 which is fitted into the hole 35 and onto the threaded stud 28.

The'tray k16 is y'adapted tot into the lopen-front of the base 1, and as the tray 16 is pushed into the case, the ramp 22 comes into contact with the hook 24 of the lock lever 23 whereupon t'heh'oo'k 24 slides alongthe inclined surface of the ramp 22 until the-hook 24 passes over the front o'fethe rear wall 20 whereupon the weight of the lock lever -2'3'causessaidlock lever to drop and the rear of the hook 24 engages the front'of the rear Wall 20 to releasably lock-the tray 16 in a closed position.

To open the tray 16the'supporting socket 34 and the writing instrument 39 are pushed in a forward direction causing the-socket 34 to rotate on shaft 31 whereby the extendingmem-ber:32'ofthe lock lever actuator 27 moves in `an-upwardly direction until the protrusions f52a come into contact with thelock lever 23 and raise said lock lever until Ithe hook 24 of the lock lever 23 is raised above the top of the rear'wall 20 of the tray 16, whereupon the spring 37, one end of which is attached by the eyelet 14 to theplate 7 and the other end of which is attached through the hole 21 of the tray 16, expands and forces the tray 16 to open outwardly from the case. When theforwardpressure-on the socket 34 is released, the spring `38, one end of which is attached to the bottom lplate 7 throughthe hole 9, and the other end of which is attached to the lock'lever actuator 27 through the hole 33, pulls V'thesocket 34 into its normal backward position.

In the use of my desk lpen set it is of primary importance to provide 'a writing instrument conveniently supported in a socketwhich keeps the writing end clear and the instrument ready for immediate use in combination with the memorandum sheets which are normally concealed Within the 'base of the set andwhich'may be instantlyexposed for use in the act of removing thev Writing instrument from its supporting socket. This provides a 'desk pen set wherein the tray in the base thereof is instantly opened, when it is desired, by acne-hand operation which engages the writing instrument and simultaneously releases the tray in the base to expose the contents thereof. This Vis particularly important when one wishes to'make a memorandum while in a telephone conversation when only one hand is available to engage the Writing -instrument and to provide a memorandum sheet'upon which writing can be entered. Further my desk pen` set` provides a neat and convenient means for concealing the memorandum sheets within the base of the set when the same are not desired for use and While the writing instrument is resting in the socket of said set.

I claim:

1. A-desk unit'comprising a base member, a shallow tray `slidably positioned within said base member, a gravity actuated catch operatively connected to said base'to hold said tray in a normally concealed position in said base membenramp means aixed to the rear wall of said tray adapted to direct said gravity actuated catch into lockingposition when said tray is inserted into said base member, release means pivotally supported on said base member and movable between a rst position ou-t of engagement with 'said catch and a second position engaging and moving saidl catch out of engagement with said'tray, spring means for holding said release means in `said lrst position, vspring means for biasing said "tray out of said base member when said catch is operated so as to be out of engagement with said tray by the rotation of said release means, and shoulder means for limiting the opening movement of said tray when it is released by said catch.

2. A desk unit comprising a box-shaped base member having an open end and a removable bottom, a tray slidable intosaid base member through the open end thereof, an enlarged 'front wall of said tray adapted to close 'the open end of said'base member when said tray Vis inserted therein, a `gravity actuated catch mounted Within said base member to hold saidtray within said base member with said enlarged front wall closing said open end, ramp means aixed to the rear wall of said tray adapted to direct said catch into locking position when said tray is inserted into said base member, a pivotal release member adapted to support a writing instrument mounted on said base member, and movable between a iirstposition out of engagement with said gravity operated catch and a second position engaging and moving said catch out of engagement with said tray, spring means within said base member biasing said tray into a normally outward open position, shoulder means within said base member engageable with said tray to limit the outward movement thereof, and spring means for maintaining said release member in a normally inclined upright position.

3. A desk accessory including a one-piece housing having a substantially at top surface, said housing having a rear wall and side walls depending from the `top surface thereof and having an aperture in the top surface thereof, a 'bottom plate removably attached to said housing, a pair of spaced vertical supports integral with said bottom plate positioned in register with the aperture in said housing, a shallow tray slidably positioned in said housing, said tray having a rear wall positioned inwardly from the rear thereof,'the rear Wall of said trayhaving a notched portion intermediate the ends thereof and having an inclined ramp extending outwardly therefrom, a latch engageable with the ramp and the notched portion of the rear wall of said tray pivotably mounted between said vertical supports and adapted to ascend the ramp of the rear wall of said tray to hook said tray in a closed position when said tray is inserted into said housing, a shaft positioned in said vertical supports above said latch, a release member rotatably mounted on said shaft adapted to`hold said latch free of said bottom plate and to urge said latchfree of said tray, said release member extending through the aperture in the top surface of said housing, means for'biasing said tray in a normally openposition, means for biasing said release member free of said latch, and means for restraining the outward travel of said tray in said housing.

References Cited in the ule of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,225,169 Perreten May 8, 1917 1,389,981 Randall Sept. 6, 1921 2,110,007 Tett Mar. .1, 1938 2,593,384 rBut-1er Apr. 15, 1952 2,731,763 Domberger et al Jan. 24, 1956 

